Joao Pedro completes big-money Chelsea transfer from Brighton

Chelsea have announced the signing of Joao Pedro from Brighton in a deal reportedly worth up to £60m.

Joao Pedro, who has signed a seven-year contract, has linked up with Enzo Maresca’s squad in the United States and could play a role in the rest of their Club World Cup campaign.

The Brazilian ends his time at Brighton having made 70 appearances across all competitions, netting 30 goals and providing 10 assists since joining them from Watford in 2023.

He enjoyed a successful final season for Fabian Hurzeler’s side in 2024-25, scoring 10 goals in all competitions, a total only bettered by Danny Welbeck (11). Indeed, no player in Brighton’s team registered as many goal contributions as Joao Pedro (17) last year.

The 23-year-old also averaged a goal involvement every 143 minutes for Brighton in the Premier League (28 in 3,996 minutes), the best minutes-per-goal involvement ratio of any Seagulls player in the competition (minimum 10 goals and assists).

Of the players to feature in at least two games last season, he had the highest goals per 90 figure (0.4) and the highest goal involvements (0.7) in Brighton’s squad.

The boy from Brazil. pic.twitter.com/lVM8B9TlBV

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 2, 2025

When compared to Chelsea’s attackers last season, only Jadon Sancho (eight) and Pedro Neto (eight) assisted more goals than Joao Pedro (seven).

“Everyone knows this is a big club with a great history,” said Joao Pedro.

“They had brilliant players in the past and have brilliant players now, so I am excited to join and you know when you are a Chelsea player you must think one thing – win.”

Joao Pedro becomes Chelsea’s sixth signing of the summer window, with the Blues having already completed deals for Liam Delap, Estevao, Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo and Kendry Paez.

The Blues have also reportedly had a £55m (€63.5m) bid accepted for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens, though he would not be able to feature for them at the Club World Cup, having already appeared for Niko Kovac’s team.

Chelsea are next in action on Friday when they face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals.